Separating apparatus



Aug; 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS l7 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 INVENTORS CLehde Hen/'11 Joh J,Dicker/17017 Aug. 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS l7Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 INVENTORS Hen/ LFLehqe Job nJD/ckerman BY Affor'ney 3, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL 3,268,373

SEPARATING APPARATUS 022i BW/(Z My Affor'ncy Aug. 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDEETAL Y 3,268,973

SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15. 1960 17 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTORY Henry C L chac BY John .1 D/ckerman w (2 My Iii/urn: If

Aug. 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL.

SEPARATING APPARATUS l7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 15. 1960 FIG.EQ

A Her/my Aug. 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS 17Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 1 .1960

INVENTORS Hen/qL'Lehz/e h a. 0' he 1 BY JB 10 m an M1 MW H. C. LEHDEETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Aug. 23, 1966 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original FiledFeb. 15. 1960 A ffarn y Aug- 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL 3,253,073

SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 km sa Q OE N s INVENTORS Henry CLehae John [Die/aermcm M/ I AH'az-ney Aug.23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL 3,258,973

SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 17 Sheets-Sheet 9INVENTORS Henry 6? Lchq'e.

Jbhn J .P/ckerman MJW Aug. 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL 3,263,073

SEPARAT I NG APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 17 Sheets-Sheet 1OINVENTORS Henry CLeha/e J'ohn JD/ekerman BY My My FIG. 26

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SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15. 1960 1'? Sheets-Sheet 11 AHorn 0y 3, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS l7 Sheets-Sheet 12Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 IN VEN TOR. HenryCLehc/e By John JD/ckermanA /orne Aug. 23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL 3,268,073

SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15. 1960 l7 Sheets-Sheet 13HenryCZehc/e Jo/m JD/ckerman Maw A/fomey 3, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETALSEPARATING APPARATUS l7 Sheets-Sheet 14 Original Filed Feb. 15. 1960lie/Ida eke/"man INVENTOR.

Henr John J-%/' 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 i l hl l h H. C. LEHDE ETALSEPARA'IING APPARATUS Aug. 23, 1966 Original Filed Feb. 15. 1960 Aug.23, 1966 H. c. LEHDE ETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS l7 Sheets-Sheet 16Original Filed Feb. 15, 1960 nmm gaw

23, 1965 H. c. LEHDE ETAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 15.1960 17 Sheets5heet 17 INVENTORS Henry 'Leh a e BY John .[D/ckerman M Jn Affarney United States Patent 3,268,073 SEPARATING APPARATUS Henry C.Lehde, Northport, N.Y. (R0. Box 415, Midway City, Calif.), and John J.Dickerman, 22 Oak St., Northport, N.Y. Original application Feb. 15,1960, Ser. No. 8,649. Divided and this application Feb. 25, 1963, Ser.No.

11 Claims. c1. 209-73 This invention relates to separating apparatus,and more particularly to improved apparatus for separating a mixture ofobjects or articles of different electrical conductivity into two ormore classes, and irrespective of the shape and size of the objects tobe classified. This application is a division of the our copendingparent application Serial No. 8,649, filed February 15, 1960, now PatentNo. 3,200,888.

In the processing of various products, articles and objects it is oftennecessary and desirable to separate a collection or traveling mixture ofobjects of varied shapes and sizes and substantially differentelectrical conductivity into two or more predetermined groups or classeson the basis of their electrical conductivity characteristics, andwithout previous size or shape classification of the object mixture.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide efficient and reliableapparatus for separating a mixture of objects of widely varying shapeand size, into two or more groups or classes of substantially differentelectrical conductivity.

A further purpose of this invention is to provide separating apparatuswhich includes means for marshalling and advancing a mixture of objectsof varying size and shape into a column or columns of objects travelingin single file and individually spaced order into the presence of adevice or devices sensitive to the electrical conductivity of theindividually spaced objects, and which sensing means controls theoperation of a mechanically driven deflector or deflectors whichoperates in synchronism with the marshalling and advancing means toselectively perform the separating operation.

A further purpose of this invention is to provide a separating apparatusadapted to classify a large volume flow of objects of varied size andshape in accordance with their electrical conductivity characteristics,and having any desired number of marshalling and classifying channelsadapted to reliably operate at relatively high speed.

While the separating mechanism of this invention is uniquely adapted forthe reliable separation and classification of numerous types ofrelatively solid organic or inorganic articles, objects and products ofwidely varying size and shapes in accordance with their individual electrical conductivity characteristics, this invention will be exemplifiedin the following description to the separation of stones, clods and sodintermixed with a root crop such as potatoes, as recovered in aharvesting operation.

The harvesting of potatoes in an economical manner by machine operationpresents numerous difiicult and varied problems, resulting from variablefield conditions under which the mechanical harvester must operate. Manysandy and gravelly soils especially suitable for potato growing, oftencontain numerous stones of various sizes which are excavated with thepotatoes, and which should be promptly eliminated during the harvesting,to avoid bruising damage to the harvested potatoes. When the harvestingmust be performed when the soil is dry and hard, or under otherunfavorable soil or climatic conditions, soil lumps and clods are oftenexcavated with the potatoes of such hardness that they will not crumbleduring normal conveyor handling, and should be eliminated 'ice duringthe harvesting process if potato bruising is to be avoided. Many potatofields at the time of harvesting are also contaminated with tenacioussod and weed root growth, which is excavated with the potatoes and whichshould also be separated and discarded during the harvesting process.

While various means for the mechanical removal of stones, hard clods andsod have been proposed, no practical mechanisms have heretofore beenprovided for the mechanical elimination of such debris during theharvesting operation. Potato harvesters presently used are equipped withriding platforms on which four or more workers ride, and who are busilyengaged in the manual removal of stones, hard clods and sod, as thepotatoes and debris advance from the digging and elevating conveyor tothe discharge conveyor. The labor cost involved in the manualelimination of such debris during the barvesting operation, and theextra weight and the extra power required to carry and transport thenecessary number of riders, adds materially to the cost of theharvesting operation. In addition, the timely availability of capablemachine riding labor during the limited harvesting season, and duringthose days when weather conditions are favorable to potato harvesting,is a constant and recurring problem to potato growers.

In accordance with this invention, the potato harvester may be equippedwith mechanical mechanisms and devices for automatically separating andeliminating stones, hard clods and sod, during the harvesting operation,so that only clean potatoes of commercial size are loaded from theharvester into the hauling vehicle or truck. Potato harvesters whichinclude this invention, eliminate the need for harvester ridingattendants to manually eliminate stones, clods and sod from the potatostream, with resultant substantial economies in harvesting costs.

This invention is particularly adapted for mounted association withself-propelled root and potato harvesters, provided with one or moredigging or excavating shovels which transfer the excavated material onto a traveling sifting conveyor which sifts out soil, stones, sod andother debris which is smaller in size than the size range of the rootcrop to be gathered; followed by a primary diviner for removing andstripping out above ground growth and vines from the product stream. Theharvester is also desirably provided with a secondary sifting conveyorextending transversely of the harvester and operative to shift from theproduct stream, such stones, clods and sod which are larger than thelargest size root product or object to be gathered, as disclosed in ourparent application Serial No. 8,649, filed February 16, 1960, now PatentNo. 3,200,888.

The product stream is discharged from the secondary sifting conveyorinto a collecting area or bin, and may be composed of a mixture ofpotatoes and remaining delbris such as stones, hard clods and sod of thesame size range as the root crop to be gathered and not previouslyeliminated.

This invention incorporates integrated mechanism which can be mounted onthe framework structure of the harvester, for conveying and marshaillingthe potatoes and remaining stone's, clods and sods of similar size (fromthe receiving bin to the rear end of the harvester, in a series ofsingle file columns, and in a manner which permits the selectiveelimination of the remaining stones, clods and sods from the potatostream. The marsihal ling system includes a series of columnizedadvancing paddles connected to and advanced by one or more driven chainsor belts. The paddles in each paddle column are arranged in linearspaced relation, and each paddle presents an object advancing facedesigned to positively advance cnly a single potato, stone or clod in anupwardly Patented August 23', 1966 inclined longitudinal directiontoward the rear end of the harvester.

One or more potato tumbling rolls are arranged in operative associationwith each paddle column, and which provides partial or total support forthe objects advanced by the linearly spaced paddles. Each of the colu-mnized advancing paddles operates to withdraw one or more potatoes,stones, clo'ds or objects from the receiving bin, and advance the samein tumbling contact with the associated rotating marshalling roll orrolls. Each columnized advancing paddle is so shaped and dimensioned asto support only a single potato, stone or clod on the advancing facethereof as the paddle reaches the upper end of its travel. If more thanone potato, stone or clod is initially engaged by an advancing paddle,the extra potato, stone or clod is tumbled laterally from the advancinginfluence of the paddle for return to the receiving bin for subsequentpick-up.

Where only a single marshalling roll is employed in association witheach paddle column, the marshalling rolll may be positioned directlyunder the line of travel of the columnized paddles to provide tumblingsupport for the objects advanced thereby. Alternatively, the marshallingroll may be positioned to extend along the extremity of the line oftravel of the colu'mnized paddles, to effectuate tumbling of thepotatoes, with a stationary supporting plate positioned under thepaddles to provide support for the paddle advanced objects.Alternatively, a pair of tumbling rolls may be associated with eachpaddle column to provide tumbling support [for the paddle advancedobjects. Longitudinally extending bafile plates may be provided toassist the channelization of the advancing objects into linearizedcolumns. Where Vines and other growth debris is so prolific that thesame cannot be adequately eliminated by the primary deviner, a secondarydevining roll in riding association with the tumbling roll may beprovided to insure complete removal of remaining vine and growth debris.

Mechanism is provided for the selective separation and elimination ofremaining stones, clods and sods from the potatoes when these objectshave been arranged in spaced relationship in single file columns by thecombined action of the advancing paddles and marshalling rolls. Thismechanism comprises a mechanically tdriven potato selector and stone,olod and sod eliminating device, positioned adjacent the discharge endof each paddle column, and which device is operatively con-trolled by asensing circuit.

In one form of the invention, potatoes and remaining stones and clodsare individually discharged by the several columns of successiveadvancing paddles into corresponding drop tubes, each of which isequipped with a sensing ring containing a sensing coil which isresponsive to conductive materials such as a potato droppingtherethrough, but which is relatively non-sensitive to less conductivestones or earth clods. The sensing coil forms part of a sensingoscillator or detecting circuit, and the pulsations produced therein bythe passage of a potato through the sensing ring, are amplified by anamplifying circuit which controls a switching circuit, and which in turncontrols the operation of a clutch and brake mechanism. 'Ihe clutch andbrake mechanism is operative to manipulate a pivotally mounteddeflecting plate which is positioned to deflect stones and clods toground, and is also manipulated by the sensing circuit to permit thepotatoes to drop from the sensing ring to a transverse potato conveyortherebelow.

In another form of this invention, the sensing circuit, the amplifyingcircuit, and the switching circuit are compactly contained in a casingwhose upper tarcuate surface forms a linear continuation of the upperend of a marshalling roll in each single file column. The successivepotatoes, stones and clods are separately advanced by the marshallingpaddles into proximity with the sensing device which operates tomanipulate a clutch and brake device which is operatively connected to adeflecting paddle or paddle wheel adjacent the terminal end of the upperreach of the traveling object advancing paddles. 'Ilhis potato selectingand stone eliminating mechanism is so constructed and arranged as toeither deflect the advancing potatoes into a drop tube or chute, or todeflect the advancing stone-s land olods into a discharge chute fordischarge to ground.

The parts and components of the sensing device in both forms of thisinvention are constructed and designed for compact assembly in a casingof very small size and weight, and requires very little power tooperate. The deflecting paddles or plates in both forms of the inventioncan each [be effectively operated under approximately forty-five voltsof input power, so that the voltage converting power source for thesepotato sensing and stone deflecting mechanisms may be energized by thestorage battery associated with the combustion engine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent [asthe disclosure proceeds.

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and themanner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the direction of travel of thepotatoes and debris materials processed along and through the variouscomponents of the harvester;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration in perspective of one version ofthe present invention, showing the principles of the potato or objectmarshalling arrangement, and one form of the electrical sensing andpotato selecting device, in operative association with a crop harvester;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary perspective view of the sensing coil containingring associated with each of the potato selector and stone eliminatorunits shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing further details of the object marshallingand advancing assembly, certain parts being broken away to revealfurther details;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken through the object marshalling andadvancing assembly as the same would appear when viewed along line 4-4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the object marshalling andadvancing assembly as the same would appear when viewed along line 55 ofFIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective detail of one of theadvancing chains and associated advancing paddles which form a part ofthe object marshalling and advancing assembly illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section of the clutch sprocket associated withthe shaft which drives the marshalling chains and paddles and as thesame would appear when viewed along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective detail of the cushioning box whichcushions the fall of the potatoes as dropped from the potato selectorunits generally shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one set of potatomarshalling and secondary deviner rolls which are driven from theintermediate transverse shaft shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing a part of the lowermarshalling rolls and supporting framework, the paired sprockets for themarshalling chains and the roll supporting brackets;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a pair of the lowermarshalling rolls, and adjacent marshalling chain supporting channelstherebetewen, also one of the marshalling roll supporting brackets, andalso one of the marshalling chain supporting sprockets in phantom lines;

FIG. 12 is a further fragmentary perspective view showing the lower partof marshalling rolls and marshal ling chain supporting channels; thisview also showing the marshalling chain supporting sprockets andconnecting stationary shaft, and also the stationary shaft supportingbracket which may be adjusted to maintain the marshalling chains atproper tautness;

FIG. 13 is a transverse view, partly in section, of one pair of lowermarshalling rolls and supporting brackets and framework as the samewould appear when viewed along line 1313 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the sprocket assemblywhich drives the marshalling chains and paddles, and adjacent theretothe pulley and V-belt assemblies which drive the potato marshalling andturnbling rolls, and also the continuously driven shafts of the selectorunits;

FIG. 14A is a schematic diagram, which supplements the drive diagramshown in FIG. 14, and which illustrates the driving system which may beused for driving the marshalling chains, for rotating the tumbling andspinner rolls, for driving the object selector units, and for drivingthe primary feed conveyor and the discharge conveyor from a single powersource in operative synchronism; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of one of the object selector andeliminator units and its associated transistor circuit which includesthe sensing oscillator, m ulti-stage amplifier and switching circuit forcontrolling the operation of the selector and eliminator unit;

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the upper half section of an alternativeform of potato marshalling and turnbling assembly which embraces fourduplex paddle equipped potato advancing chains driven from the upperends thereof and designed to advance, marshall and tumble eight columnsof potatoes between eight sets of paired marshalling and tumbling rollswhich are also driven from the upper ends thereof;

FIG. 17 is a vertical transverse section of the lower end of thealternate form of marshalling and tumbling assembly shown in FIG. 16,this view showing the drop bin, the lower ends of the marshalling chainsand associated potato advancing paddles, and the supporting sprocketstherefor;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view which illustrates furtherdetails of one of the similar duplex paddle equipped potato advancingchains and the two adjacent pairs of cooperating marshalling andtumbling rolls as incorporated into the assembly shown in FIGS. 16 and17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged transverse section taken along line 19-19 ofFIGS. 16 and 18, and which shows in further detail the construction ofone of the similar paddle equipped potato advancing chains and the twoadjacent sets of paired marshalling and tumbling rolls which cooperatetherewith;

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing the upper section of a furtheralternative form of potato marshalling and tumbling assembly whichembraces four upwardly moving potato advancing chains driven from theupper ends thereof, each chain being equipped with two laterally spacedcolumns of downwardly inclined potato advancing paddles, each paddlecolumn extending over a downwardly inclined potato supporting plate andpositioned in cooperative relation to a single tumbling roll driven fromthe upper end thereof;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged transverse section taken along line 21-21 of FIG.20 and showing in further detail the construction of one of the similarpotato advancing chains and associated inclined paddles positioned incooperating relation to the inclined potato supporting plates andadjacent tumbling rolls;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged transverse section showing the construction of afurther modified form of paddle equipped potato advancing chain andadjacent sets of marshalling and tumbling rolls which are generallysimilar to that shown in FIG. 19 and designed for use in the assemblyshown in FIGS. 16 and 17; except that the associated paddles of thisFIG. 22 are inclined and cooperate with inclined potato supportingplates similar to that shown in FIG. 21; and except that the two sets ofassociated mar- 6 shalling and tumbling rolls of this FIG. 22 aresimilar to those shown in FIG. 16 after the rolls of FIG. 16 have beenadjusted in position to accommodate the adjacent inclined potatoadvancing paddles;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged transverse section showing the construction of afurther modified form of a paddle equipped potato advancing chain andtumbling roll assembly which is generally similar to that shown in FIG.21 and designed for use in the assembly shown in FIG. 20, the individualtumbling rolls of this FIG. 23 being similar to those shown in FIG. 20after the rolls and bafiie plates of FIG. 20 have been adjusted inposition to directly support the paired potato columns, with the rollsdriven in the opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary plan view of the rear end of a potatomarshalling and tumbling assembly generally similar to that shown inFIG. 16, but equipped with an alternative form of stone and clodseparating mechanism, which includes a potato sensing unit located atthe end of one of the marshalling rolls in each advancing column, and apaddle wheel responsive to the potato sensing unit, and operative toseparate the potatoes from the stones and clods as they individuallyarrive at the upper end of the advancing column and to deflect the sameinto separate receiving chutes;

FIG. 25 is a rear elevational view of the marshalling and selectorassembly as viewed in the direction of the arrows along line 25-25 ofFIG. 24, this view showing the mechanism for driving the potatodeflecting paddle wheels, the potato receiving chutes, and thetransverse conveyor which receives the potatoes discharged from thechutes;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary perspective view which illustrates furtherdetails of the duplex paddle equipped advancing chain shown in FIGS. 24and 25, with two adjacent pairs of cooperating marshalling and tumblingrolls, with a potato sensing unit adjacent to the upper end of one ofthe paired rolls and contoured to the roll outline, and the potatodeflecting paddle wheel and associated driving clutch and brake unitwhich is operatively responsive to the sensing unit to selectivelyseparate the potatoes from the stones and clods;

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the electromagnetic clutchand brake unit which intermittently drives the deflecting paddle wheelin synchronism with the potato advancing paddles and in selectiveresponse to signals from the sensing unit;

FIG. 28 is :a perspective view of one of the modified advancing paddlesassociated with the advancing chain shown in FIG. 26, and a portion ofthe deflecting paddle wheel, and which illustrates by arrows therelative motions of the advancing paddle and the synchronized deflectingpaddle which cooper-ate to laterally deflect the advancing potato orstone from the end of the marshalling channel without interfering withthe movement of the advancing paddle;

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary transverse section, taken along line 2929 ofFIGS. 24 and 30, this view showing the delivery end of the marshallingchain as shown in FIG. 26, its supporting sprocket, and associatedduplex advancing paddles, and two of the deflecting paddle wheels, andportions of two adjacent potato receiving chutes and a stone receivingchute therebetween;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken along line 3tl30 ofFIGS. 24 and 29, and showing the delivery end of the marshalling andselecting mechanism of FIG. 24, the electromagnetic clutch and brakeunit which drives the deflecting paddle wheel, the potato sensing unit,the potato chute, the transverse potato conveyor, and the stone and cloddeflecting cover extending over the transverse potato conveyor;

FIG. 31 is a longitudinal section of a representative form of potatosensing unit as viewed along line 3 131 of FIG. 32, and showing thegeneral components of the sensing unit and its mounting support, theadjacent end

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING A MIXTURE OF OBJECTS INTO TWO CLASSES OFDIFFERENT ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY WHICH INCLUDES, A RECEIVING AREA TOWHICH SAID OBJECTS ARE SUPPLIED, SENSING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO OBJECTS OFHIGHER CONDUCTIVITY BUT UNRESPONSIVE TO OBJECTS OF SUBSTANTIALLY LESSERCONDUCTIVITY, OBJECT DEFLECTING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SENSINGMEANS, A SINGLE FILE COLUMN OF SPACED OBJECT ADVANCING PADDLES EXTENDINGIN AN UPWARDLY INCLINED DIRECTION FROM SAID RECEIVING AREA TO SAIDOBJECT SENSING MEANS, MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID COLUMN OF PADDLES FROMTHE RECEIVING AREA TO SAID OBJECT SENSING MEANS, AN UPWARDLY INCLINEDOBJECT CONDUCTING PASSAGE POSITIONED ALONG THE LINE OF TRAVEL OF SAIDCOLUMN OF PADDLES AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE OBJECTS ADVANCED BY THEADJACENT COLUMN OF PADDLES, MEANS FOR TUMBLING THE ADVANCING OBJECTS TOTHEREBY EJECT ALL BUT ONE OF THE OBJECTS FROM THE ADVANCING INFLUENCE OFEACH PADDLE AS THE SUCCESSIVE PADDLES ARRIVE IN PROXIMITY TO SAIDSENSING MEANS, MEANS FOR RETURNING EJECTED OBJECTS TO SAID RECEIVINGAREA FOR RECYCLE, AND DRIVING MEANS UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID OBJECTSENSING MEANS, AND OPERATING IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE MOVEMENT OF SAIDADVANCING PADDLES, FOR ACTIVATING SAID DEFLECTING MEANS WHEN SAID OBJECTENGAGING PADDLES HAVE RESPECTIVELY ADVANCED TO A PREDETERMINED POSITIONWITH RESPECT TO SAID DEFLECTING MEANS, AND WHEREBY OBJECTS OF HIGHERCONDUCTIVITY ARE DEFLECTED IN ONE DIRECTION AND OBJECTS OF LESSERCONDUCTIVITY ARE DEFLECTED IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.